Any visual or applied artist working in Scotland who meets at least two of our membership criteria can join. These are not difficult for most professionals. Holding a degree is one of the listed criteria, but it carries no more weight than any other; non-graduates are very welcome! Check out our criteria.

We offer membership at two levels so that less established artists and arts administrators can also join. Both Associate (meets any two criteria) and Full Members (any four) can access all benefits including insurance, but voting rights and some posts within the Executive Committee are restricted to Full Members. Established criteria are necessary to give the Union professional status and thereby credibility when we speak on artists' behalf.

In general the Scottish Artists Union uses the terms 'visual artist' and 'applied artist' to indicate: painters, sculptors, multi media artists, new media artists, printers, lens based artists, photographers, audio artists, performance artists, ceramicists, jewellers, weavers, textile artists, creative metal workers, glass artists, furniture designers, wood carvers & turners, illustrators, cartoonists, graphic artists and multi media designers. Also artists working in public space and educational and social arenas.

We do not represent technicians, theatrical performers (other than 'performance' artists), writers or musicians. All of these groups are supported by other unions.

If your practice falls outside these descriptions then please contact [email protected] to discuss whether or not we will be able to offer support in your particular working environment.

Scottish Artists Union membership costs £72 per annum. Payable by Direct Debit or Cheque (which incurs a £1.50 cheque admin fee). You can also opt to pay monthly by direct debit is a £6 per month.

By applying online and paying by Direct Debit, your membership should be set up within a couple of weeks. 

Please note that if you choose to pay by cheque the process will take a little longer, as an initial invoice must be issued and the returned cheque must be banked and clear our account to complete the application process. An admin fee of £1.50 also applies.

Your membership pack will only arrive after your payment has been processed. This is important, as it is only then that you become a member and coverage can begin under our free Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance benefit.

Go to our Join page and complete the application form. We'll review your information and let you know how to arrange payment of your membership fees.

You can now relax and let us do some work on your behalf. Firstly, we'll review your application and check your level of eligibility; if you have missed out anything or we're not sure of the details you've provided we'll be in touch. When we're happy with the information you have provided, we'll set up your membership record and organise your fee payment schedule (Monthly or Annually).

Once we have checked your application and set up your membership, you will receive an invitation to enter your Direct Debit details from GoCardless, the platform we use for processing your payments. Enter your bank sort code & account number, and confirm your name and address are correct. Your 'Company Name' is your membership number, which we will assign to you.

You have now set up your payments (covered by the Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme). The Scottish Artists Union is almost wholly funded by our members, so your membership fees allow for all the work we do to happen. Thank you!

Once we have checked the payment info is set up correctly, we will confirm your membership and give you access to the Members' Area. This means you can download your insurance documents, as well as accessing free workshops and resources exclusive to members of the Scottish Artists Union. We will also send out your Welcome Pack, which includes your Membership Badge and Card. The time this all takes, really depends on how quickly you set up your payment details.

We aim to complete your application in 7 days. If you are paying your fees by cheque, we will need to wait until your payment clears our account before confirming your membership.

Yes. A statement confirming your fees payment can be sent to you by post or email upon request. You will also receive an email confirming your membership has been completed and gain access to the members area of our website.

If you have a valid Scottish Artists Union membership card with your own personal membership number this will verify your membership. Any invoice or email sent to you will also include your membership number.

You can show your gallery/employer paper details of the insurance policy (received as part of your membership info) and you can direct them to the our website or email address for more information.

Exisiting members can update their details on the following page of the website - sign in and go to https://www.artistsunion.scot/update_my_details. You can update your contact information, payment method and data protection preferences, your membership criteria and indicate how you would like to get more involved with your union.

Our Membership Team will review the info and action any changes made within 5 working days, we may contact you for clarification of any info provided or request further details.

The Scottish Artists Union has now launched a Graduate membership rate of £3.00 per month. Final year students, recent graduates and postgraduate students can pay this reduced rate for the first 12 months of their union membership. For further info and the full criteria of membership click here.

We are often asked this question and there are several reasons. Firstly, it is often hard to differentiate the two as many artists take part time work within organisations as administrators, but continue with their practice as artists. Secondly, many arts workers want to support the artists they work with and have the best interests of artists at heart, this is often part of why they work in the sector.

Any arts worker who cannot fulfill the full criteria as an artist is only able to become an Associate member. In order to protect the Union's status as a representative body for artists, our Constitution does not allow associate members voting rights, limits the number of associate members on the executive committee and restricts the posts of President and Vice President to Full artist members.

To date, the Union's work has been strengthened by the support of arts worker members, particularly from administrators working for the committee who are knowledgeable about the arts infrastructure, up-to-date on new policies affecting artists and the workings of the 'system'. We feel artists should benefit from as much support from within the wider sector as possible.

The Executive committee is voluntary and members can be nominated (or self nominate) to join.

Members can ask to come to a committee meeting as an Observer in the first instance before a decision is made. They then send a short statement about themselves and the committee then can appoint them as co-opted committee members. They stand for full election at the next AGM.

Yes, as the Union and its Executive exist to represent artists throughout Scotland.

We are committed to widening the geographical representation on the Executive and finding committee members from outside of the Central belt. As the greatest concentration of artists and our current membership and therefore committee is from within the central belt, we want that to change and are very keen to hear from any artists elsewhere in Scotland who would like to represent their area.

We are open to discuss ways in which it can be possible to be part of the Executive. The Scottish Artists Union covers travel expenses for members to attend the Executive Committee meetings. Meetings can be held online for committee members unable to attend in person.

Due to limits on our staff resources and voluntary executive time, in most situations we can only assist union members. However, on some occasions specific issues may lead us to research or develop work that has been influenced through information received by non-members.

Yes, if we believe there is a genuine grievance we will write to the person/organisation on your behalf and we will also try to find you relevant legal support and/or advice.

Almost all of the problems so far brought to us by members have been related to contracts - or more specifically the ABSENCE of contracts. Without a written agreement it is very difficult to find solutions - which is why we are actively campaigning for the use of contracts to become normal practice.

Email [email protected], please note all enquiries will be dealt with in strictest confidence.

If you pay for a year's membership that is non-refundable. Membership is renewed annually and each member is given the choice of continuing or cancelling membership every April.

If you pay monthly by Direct Debit you can cancel your membership at any time. 

Membership is cancelled from the date of notification or at the end of the current month's payment. All benefits end immediately upon cancellation.

Please let us know if you wish to cancel your membership by emailing: [email protected]